Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-03-25
THE CITY OF THE BIRDS.
A FABLE.

Once on the shores OF great Sat
Lake, in Territory called Utah, there
was city of Birds. This city was beau
tiful, and the country in the midst of
which it sat was fair to look upon, and
ripe with harvestS for the gathering of
the birds. And the birds wished
that their noble city and the rich
region tributary to it, be known to
all the bird kingdoms of the earth
for the birds by the Salt Lake wished to
add to their numbers, increase the habi-
tations of the city and roost as high as
possible. Now in this time of the world
there was benifcent genii, and he was
called Progress. And Progress gave
gifts to all who were worthy of them
and the birds of the city by the Great
Salt Lake spoke unto Progress saying,
"Behold we wish to increase and null
tiply. We desire that our city shall
enter upon a new growth. We have
harvests that await the gathering,
and fruits ripe for the plucking. Our
city is founded on a rock for stability,
and there is no reason why it should not
grow, and its growth be famous to the
uttermost parts of the earth. Therefore,
o Progress help us in this matter" And
the genii Progress hearkened unto the
cry Of the birds who had built their city
by the waters of the Great
Salt Lake, even in the Terri
tory known as Utah. And Progress
summoned from their homes in
the rays of the rising sun, the two good
FAIRIES, Capital and Investment. And
Capital and Investment came apace
at the call of their master, Progress,
and looked over the city of the Birds,
and the region round about, and said it
was good, and the birds rejoiced, and
said one to another, "Now our hopes are
about to be realized. We will take our
rightful place, and the city of the Birds
by the Great Salt Lake shall be rich and
mighty, and of good report" But there
dwelt in the city of Birds foolish Ra-
ven. And the Raven after the matter of
his kind, and his foolishness was given to
croaking. And the croaking of the young
and foolish Raven in the City of the
Birds had for burden, "Things are
unsettled" And the Raven dropped his
wings, looked not upward and
his croak went abroad in
the city, and the birds heard it, and were
troubled, for he that doth prophesy evil,
hath always listeners. And there also
dwelt in the city of the birds, Magpie,
and the Magpie was, after the manner of
magpies, both mischievous and greedy.
And the Magpie said to himself: "The
Raven croaks, and some of the birds
hearken to him. | will therefore, reap
both enjoyment and profit" And the
Magpia wended his way to the
Raven, who was not hard to find, for his
croaking was loud. And the Magpie
chartered thus unto the Raven: go
Raven, thy words are those of wisdom
Wherefore should these foolish birds wish
to improve their city when things are so
unsettled?" And the Raven groveled
yet closer to the ground, and in
creased his croak fourfold, and the
mischievous and greedy Maggie
watched him, and communed with
himself saying "This foolish raven
playeth into my hand, and mine ad-
versaries Progress, Capital and Invest
ment are caught on the hip. The price
of city lots must not be elevated" And
the Ravens foolish croak waxed louder
And Progress said to the birds of the
city: go Birds what is this | hear in
your midst the burden whereof is, things
are unsettled" And the birds
looked at one another fooli5hly, and
knew not what to say. And Progress
frowned and said aye are not worthy"
and he gave orders to Capital and Invest
ment, and they left the city of the Birds,
and returned into their own land. And
the Raven croaked again, and said unto
the Magpie in the fullness of the wisdom
of his kind, "See, o Magpie, it is even as l
said" And the Magpie made answer with
a wink from his strongest eye, and the
croak of the Raven and the chatter of
the Magpie arose together, and overcame
all other sounds in the streets of the City
of the Birds by the great Salt Lake, even
in the Territory called Utah.
Moral-Listen not to croakers, and
watch Magpie.